Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Senate Spends Another Day on Che
Interstate Commerce Bili-A Vote
to be Asked for To-Day.
An Eloquent appeal in the House Against
the Adoption of Edmund's Anti
Polygamy BIZ.
XIX CONGRESS


French spoilation act for twelve months
additional. The bill was passed.
Mr.. Dolpt, from tie committee on
coast defenses, reported as an amend
ment to be offered an 5tem of approprla-
ton of $500, 900 to encourage the man
ufacture of steel for ordnance.
On motion of Mr. Ingalls, the senate
bill to amend section 3749 of the REVISED
Statutes, in regard TO renting or selling
government property, was taken up and
passed.
The senate then resumed consideration
of the iater-s state commerce bill and was
addressed by Mr.. Call, who declared his
concurrence in the great objects OF public
policy sought to be carried into effect by
the original bill and the conference re-
port.
Mr.. Ingalls, expressed hope that Mr..
,Cullom would not insist on vote to-day.
The debate had developed in the press
and other organs of public opinion feel
ing of intense interest and much has been
expressed which he regarded as pronta-
BILE to those who were engaged in conSld-
Grafton of the subject.
Mr.. Call referred to the fact stated in the
work of Mr. Poore, that the capitalization
of the rail- Dads of the country exceeded
their actual cost by $500, 900, 600, and
complained that the rates charged for
transportation were to pay interest and
dividends on this capital. The people
were now paying an annual tax OF $780,
GOO, 600 IN this fictitious capital. He
could see nothing in that
if it were permitted to continue
but the ruin of the republic. No regula-
ton of Interstate commerce could be
made that permitted tlis enormous an
nusl tax. ibid the conference report pro-
poses to remedy this eviH 1t did not.
On the contrary it implicitly licensed 1t
in failing 10 provide remedy
for it. The rates sought to be established
by the bill should be reasonable, rates
calculated on the amounts actually in
vested in the construction and operation
of the railroads. If that could not be
done this bill was futile. He was in
favor of going much further than the bill
went. He was in favor of law decar-
ing a rate only reasonable rate WHICH
permitted fair return on the
capital actually invested in rail
roads. He would, however,
vote for the pending bill because it would
accomplish no great harm, put he re-
garded it as no remedy for the existing
evils and not triumph for those who de-
sired to see interstate commerce regu-
lated. Although he would vote for the
bill he would prefer to have 1t further
considered by the conference committee,
Mr.. Brown made 40 argument in oppo-
sition to the bill. Two more objection
able features of the bill were those as to
long and short haul and TO pooling. In
regard to the first, the friends OF the
measure differed among themselves as to
it's true meaning; while its oppo-
nents were at loss to give
it correct Interpretation. The section
was uncertain, inditiuite and doubtfuli in its
meaning. He did not propose to attempt
to interpret it. No living man knows what
it's authoritative Interpretation would
be. AS to its practical result, however,
he had no DOUBT. From the very neces-
sity of the case railroads would be COM
PEELED to retain their present rates
on long hauls, and this would
very seriously cripple the inter-
change of commodities between
different sections of the country. He
had no desire to predict evil, but he could
not be mistaken in stating that the bill
when put INTO operation would derange
the international and foreign commerce
of the country.
Mr.. Mitchell of Oregon addressed the
senate in similar strain. He held that
the adoption of the bill would be vital
blow struck at the transcontl-
mental and foreign commerce OF
the country, and that the railway
companies would abandon through freight
business rather than give up their profit
on local freight business.
Mr.. Cullom stated that there were three
or four senators who desired to speak on
the bill, and who had engagements for the
evening. He would not, therefore, ask
Cor vote to night, but he would dc so
before adjournment tomorrow.
Mr.. Harris asked the unanimous con-
sept to have q vote taken tomorrow, but
Mr. Aldrich objected.
After executive session the senate ad-
lourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. l2-The floor was
under special order accorded to the COM
mittee on judiciary and the house pro-
ceeded to the consideration of Mr.. Ed
munds' anti-polygamy bill and Mr.. Tuck
er's substitute therefor. Mr.. Taylor of
Ohio gave brief sketch of the establish
ment of the Mormon church in Utah,
and the efforts which had been
made by congress to suppress
the practice of polygamy. These
efforts had been only partially successful,
owing to the difficulty of obtaining proof
of polyeamous marriage. Congress
should take the matter in hand, not in
spirit of persecution. but with a determ-
ination that the evils and wrongs of pO-
lygamy should cease. 1t was now
growing stronger, and was not confined
to the boundaries of Utah. Its friend,
the legislature of Utah, would not
strangle it, but congress must and fOrtu-
nately could. 1t had legal power under
the constitution, and it had the means at
hand to exercise it. He fully believed not
only that the pending bill! would over
throw polygamy, but that if supplement-
ed by proposed constitutional amend
ment, it would relieve the country from
all fear of it ard its cognate evils.
Mr.. Cain OF Utah, earnestly opposed
the measure as unDemocratic. unwar-
rantable, and wanton destruction Of
human rights, because it set at naught
the immutable principles upon which
the common rights of man were follow
ed, and turned the Mormons and their
church over to Unsuitable DISORDERS.
He sketched the settlement of Ukeh by
the Mormons, depicted the prosecutions.
IN which thew had heen subjected and